Case Studies

Powys Local Authority

Powys Local Authority
ICT visioning project

Powys Local Authority commissioned Schools’ Buying Club to engage with their schools in order to better understand their current use of technology as well as how they might use technology in the future.

Schools’ Buying Club supported the Local Authority in designing an engagement programme that included gathering data from stakeholders using an online questionnaire and hosting two online round table events for secondary and primary schools.

Both mechanisms yielded meaningful data and Schools’ Buying Club published a detailed report with a series of recommendations and next steps. Powys Local Authority was able to use this report to inform their upcoming ICT spend as well as inspire and shape their long-term ICT digital aspirations for schools in the region.

“We enjoyed working with the team from Schools’ Buying Club and were delighted with their input and contributions from start to finish. The report from Schools’ Buying Club has helped guide our ICT procurement strategy, not just in the short term, but inspired us to consider the long term possibilities and options open to us to enhance outcomes for all of our learners. We would thoroughly recommend their services.”

Havering Council

Havering Council
Strategic procurement partner

Schools’ Buying Club is the strategic procurement partner for Havering Council. It advises, adds capacity to the internal team at the Council and helps deliver with hands on support. Recently Schools’ Buying Club has put eight new frameworks in place for Havering Council including cleaning, security, telephony, small building works, waste management, MFDs (Multi-functional devices), EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) and educational supplies.

“Through their methodical and painstaking approach, SBC’s professional input over the past three years has made a significant difference in ensuring that we continue to provide a robust brokerage service to schools, enabling them to purchase goods and services cost effectively and compliantly. SBC’s willingness and readiness to collaborate in developing our service specifications continues to give us added value in ensuring that tender documents published are comprehensive and fit for purpose. A key strength of SBC is their personnel, they are very knowledgeable and can be completely trusted to deliver results.” Shola Omogbehin, Head of Education Traded Services

St Olave’s Grammar School

St Olave’s Grammar School
Procurement of a new ICT service

Schools’ Buying Club managed the tender process from start to finish for managed ICT services on behalf of St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, Kent. The new contract will save the school £120k over three years and the successful supplier will assist the school in developing their ICT Strategy as well as ensuring learning is enhanced via technology, not disrupted.
 
“I personally could not have done this process without their support and have learned a lot by working alongside them. Thank you SBC!” Liz James, SBM
Education for the 21st Century

Education for the 21st Century
Procurement of a new MFD contract

Schools’ Buying Club helped E21C procure a new MFD contract for its 9 academies. The team managed a bespoke procurement process from start to finish, helping the Trust find the best provision possible, both in terms of quality and value for money. The new centralised contract can now be managed at Trust level and will deliver a significant saving of 620k over 4 years. Additional benefits include transparent print costs, savings on environmentally friendly devices and all licenses finishing at the same time.

‘Thanks to SBC we will be paying a third of our original contract and will make a big step towards achieving our sustainability goals. The SBC team was extremely helpful and efficient throughout the process, we can’t recommend their service enough.’ Rob Carling, Director of Finance

Chiltern Learning Trust

Chiltern Learning Trust
Procurement of a new catering and ICT service

Schools’ Buying Club managed the tender process for catering services on behalf of the Chiltern Learning Trust for 10 of its schools.  The schools had a range of catering providers and they were looking to create efficiencies by bringing everything under one contract.   The new contract has been able to deliver a more consistent standard across the Trust and the school group will now receive a guaranteed revenue of £255k over the 3-year contract as well as receiving an investment of £245k to help improve the facilities and overall quality of the catering provision.

SBC also worked with Chiltern Learning Trust to procure a new ICT managed service. We created efficiencies by bringing everything under one easy to manage contract and ensuring a consistent standard of service across all schools in the Trust. Additionally, we helped to redefine their ICT strategy by appointing a new Director of ICT across the Trust which aligned with the start of the new contract.

“The support given by Schools’ Buying Club felt like having an extended procurement team within the Trust, the officers were excellent, communicative, always available to provide advice and guidance, informed and understanding of our context and needs. Schools’ Buying Club has now supported us with Cleaning, Catering and ICT managed service tenders and I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them to other Trusts, a truly excellent service.” Rob Parsons, COO

South Staffordshire Further Education College

South Staffordshire Further Education College

We ran an e-Auction for a large ICT purchase, and the costs came in 16% cheaper for exactly the same products!